Handle for automatic firearms



Feb. 6, 3945. e. XRONSIDE HANDLE FOR AUTOMATIC FIREARMS Filed Dec. 29, 1941 a M y r n W vi Hum Hm ii 6 n 5 Jmi 5 Patented Feb. 6, 1945 HANDLE FOR AUTOMATIC FIREARMS George Ironside, Hartford, Conn., assignor to Colts Patent Fire Arms Manufacturing Company, Hartford, Conn, a corporation of Conneeticut Application December 29, 1941, Serial No. 424,729

9 Claims.

This invention relates to a carrying handle for an automatic fire arm and more particularly for a machine gun.

One of the objects of the invention is to provide the top of a machine gun with a handle which is so disposed thereon with respect to the length of the machine gun that, when the machine gun a is carried by the handle, the machine gun will be substantially balanced in the hand of the carrier.

Another object of the invention is to have a carrying handle so mounted that it may be pivoted from an upright or carrying position to a Substantially horizontal or lowered position of repose in which latter position it extends outward past one side of the breech casingof the machine gun whereby the cover plate of the breech casing may be raisedwithout interference from the handle.

A still further object of the invention is to provide stop means whereby the carrying handle may be pivoted from a substantially vertical or carrying position to a lowered position adjacent one side of the breech casing, which side is opposite that containing the feed channel into which the cartridge belt is fed so that in neither of its extreme positions or any intermediate position will the handle interfere with the feeding of the cartridge belt into the breech casing of the machine gun.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a carrying handle on the top of a machine gun whereby, when the handle is in the lowered position, adjacent one side of the breech casing, the line of sight between the front and rear sights of the machine gun is clear in all positions of elevation of the rear sight.

The details as well as other objects of the invention will become apparent from the following specification, and the accompanying drawing.

The accompanying drawing shows the embodiment. of the invention which is deemed preferable, but it will be understood that the drawin is intended for illustrative purposes only and are not to be construed as defining or limiting the scope of the invention, the claims forming a part of this specification being relied upon for that purpose.

In the drawing;

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a machine gun having a carrying handle in raised or carrying position.

Fig. 2 isa fragmentary side elevation showing the handle in lowered position and the cover plate raised.

Fig. 3 is a rear elevation partly broken away and on a larger scale illustrating the carrying handle pivoted away from the side of the breech casing into which the cartridge beltis fed.

Fig. 4 is a side elevation of an enlarged view of the details of the front bearing and stop member for the handle, the adjacent portions of the machine gun being illustrated in dot-and-dash lines.

Fig. 5 is a front elevation of the front bearing and stop member for the handle.

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary rear end elevation showing details of the rear sight and the carrying handle pivoted to lowered position.

Fig. 9 is a plan view of the handle per se.

The handle forming the subject matter of the present. invention is a substantially U-shaped bail-type handle having a relatively long handengaging or grip portion, at. either end of which is an onset. leg portion terminating in a trunnion extending outward substantially parallel to the hand-engaging portion. Combination bearing and stop members are provided. on the top of the breech casing of the machine gun to accommodate the trunnions of the handle. The combinationbearing and stop members are disposed respectively forward and rearward of the pivoted cover plate of the breech casing, of the machine gun whereby, when the handle is lowered to the position illustrated in Figs. 2, 3 and 8 the cover plate may be raised without interference of any kind from the handle.

Similarly, the vertical dimension of the combination. bearing and stop members is such that they do not extend into the line of sight between the front and rear sights of the machine gun so that, when the handle is lowered to the position illustrated in Figs. 2, 3 and '8, the line of sight is unobstructed even with the rear sight disposed in its lowermost position.

Furthermore, the stone of the combination bearing and stop members limit the swinging oi the handle to an arc ofv substantially 9.0 degrees in. moving from vertical or carrying position to horizontal or lowered position. In the latter position, the handle extends outward beyond one side of the breech casing which side is opposite that containing the feed channel: into which the cartridge belt is ted whereby in neither of its extreme positions, or in any position between the extremes, does the handle interfere with the feeding of the cartridge belt into the feed channel. This arrangement is. particularly advantageous when first inserting the free end of the cartridge belt into the feed channel since the handle will not interfere with the gunners vision when so inserting the cartridge belt whether it is being fed from a magazine attached to the machine gun or some other source of supply.

In the drawing, a firearm illustrated in the form of a machine gun is generally indicated at H). The machine gun comprises the breech casing 12 having a pivoted cover plate [4 arranged on the top thereof. The cover plate [4 is provided with a conventional latch IS. A barrel jacket I6 is provided on the forward end of the breech casing and the barrel l8 projects from the forward end of the barrel jacket.

At the rear end of the breech casing, a back plate 20 mounting a buffer assembly, handle, and trigger mechanism is illustrated but, since these elements comprise no essential feature of the instant invention, the details of the same are not described.

The top plate 22 of the breech casing mounts a rear sight 24. The rear sight has a pivoted leaf 26 which has a conventional sight slide mounted thereon and also a fixed peep sight 28, which peep sight extends at a right angle to the leaf 2B and may be usedwhen the rear sight leaf is in inoperative position, as illustrated in Figs. 1 and 8. Mounted on the forward end of the barrel jacket 15 is a pivoted frontsight 30 having a blade on its outermost end which, when the front sight 30 is elevated to the position shown in Fig. 2, is used by the gunner in conjunction with the rear sight to aim the machine gun.

The forward end of the breech casing is provided with a trunnion block 32 having spaced upstanding arms 34 projecting from the upper surface thereof and between which the cover detent bracket 36 is secured by suitable rivets 38. The details of the spaced upstanding arms 34, the cover detent bracket 36, and the securing rivets 38, as well as the complete function of the same, are illustrated in more detail in U. S. Patent 1,803,349, Figs. 6, 7, 29, and 30. Since the details of these elements do not comprise an essential part of this invention, further details of the same are not given herein. A groove 40 is formed medially of the cover detent bracket 36 in the upper portion thereof to receive a combined bearing and stop member 42 which extends upward above the top surface of the cover detent bracket 36. The bearing and stop member 42, which may also be called the front bearing and stop member, is snugly fitted and secured in the groove 40 by the forward rivet 38 which extends through a suitable aperture provided in the bearing and stop member 42, which aperture is aligned with the corresponding aperture in the cover detent bracket. The bearing and stop member 42 is provided with a bearing aperture 44 and stop members having surfaces 46 and 48 for purposes to be described.

Rearward of the cover plate, a rear combined bearing and stop member 50 is secured by suitable screws to the top plate of the breech casing. The rear bearing and stop member is also provided with a-bearing aperture 52 and stop members having surfaces 54 and 56 for purposes to be described.

The U-shaped bail-like handle 58 is provided with an elongated hand grip member 60, laterally extending legs 62, and outward extending trunnions 64 on the free ends of the legs 62. The

trunnions 64 are mounted for rotatable movement in the bearing apertures 44 and 52 to pivotally mount the handle on the top of the machine gun. The hand grip member 60 is rotatable with respect to the handle 58 and is sufficiently long to permit the grasping of the handle by more than one hand at a time if necessary or desirable.

The portions of the legs 62 adjacent the trunnions 64 are respectively engageable with the stop surfaces 46, 48 of the front bearing and stop member, and the stop surfaces 54, 56 of the rear bearing and stop member 50 to limit the pivotal movement of the handle to an arc of sub stantially 90 degrees. The handle is movable from an approximately vertical position which is the carrying position of the handle to a substantially horizontal position which may be termed the position of repose or the lowered position of the handle. In precluding the handle from pivoting past the vertical position in one direction, a steadying function between the handle and machine gun is afforded while carrying the machine gun.

In the embodiment of the machine gun illustrated in the present drawing and particularly 'as shown in Fig. 3, a cartridge belt 56 is fed to a feed channel on the left side of the breech casing and the empty cartridge belt is discharged through an opening on the right side of the machine gun. The cartridge belt is shown being fed from a suitable magazine 6'1, fragmentarily shown, attached to the breech casing in any suitable manner but it is to be understood that the belt may be fed to the feed channel from any other suitable source of supply. It is also to be observed that the handle 58 cannot be moved into a position to interfere with the act of attaching the magazine to the breech casing. As

further illustrated in Fig. 3, the handle 58 is in lowered position and extends outward past the right side of the breech casing, in which position it will in no way interfere with the feed of the cartridge belt 66 to the feed channel on the left side of the, breech casing, and even if the handle were swung to the vertical or carrying position it would still not interfere with the feed of the cartridge belt. Freedom from interference from the handle is particularly desirable when initially inserting the outer end of the cartridge belt into the feed channel as the handle will not interfere with the gunners vision in inserting said end of the cartridge belt. The stops 46 and 54 engage a portion on each leg 62 to prevent the handle from swinging past vertical position toward the left side of the breech casing so that at no time can the handle swing toward the feedin side of the breech'casing, thus precluding interference of the handle with the feed of the cartridge belt.

When the handle 58 is in the lowered position,

it extends beyond the periphery of the cover plate which extends between the upper end of the front sight 30 when raised and the rear peep sight 28.

Said line of sight is illustrated by a dot-and-dash line in Fig. 1. As will be seen from this figure,'

the uppermost surface of each ofthe combined bearing and stop members 42 and 56 is below said line of sight. .Fig. .8 clearly shows that. the aperture of the rear peep sight28is above the uppermost surface .of the combinedbearingand'. stop .member 50. The vertical position .of the aperture of the peep sight 28 with respect to the top plate of the breech casing is substantially the same as that of the aperture of sight slide; on' the pivoted leaf 26; when the sight slide is in lowermost position. r

A further embodiment which .may be incorporated in the present invention is to form the hand grip member 60 of somesuitablematerial having low thermal conductivity characteristics whereby, should the machine gunv become overheated, the heat will not be transmitted to-the hand of the user to such an extent that hewill not be able to carry the machine gun- The hand gripmember, by way of illustration, may possibly be formed of a suitable synthetic resin having low thermal conductivity characteristics and, if necessary, the resin may be impregnated with appropriate fibrous or other bindingmaterial so that the handle will not shatter if subjected to hard use or direct blows.

I The construction of the handle mounting means and the manner of securing these means to the machine gun, as well as the particularly selected positions for attaching said means on the machine gun, represent salient features of the instant invention. It will be seen that the combined bearing and stop members afiord -a compact arrangement for pivotally mounting the handle as well as limiting the movement thereof to a restricted path whereby the handle may not be moved to a position in which it will interfere with the feed of the cartridge belt to the feed channel side of the breech casing but, the handle may be pivoted toward the other side of the breech casing, from carrying position, to clear the path of the cover plate when'it is desired to open the same and, when the handle is pivoted toward said side of the breech casing, the handle will be clear of the line of sight between the front and rear sights of the machine gun.

The development of the present invention has thus produced ahandle which renders the machine gun to which it is attached easily carried while none of the normal functions of the machine gun are interfered with in any way.

While the invention has been illustrated and described in its preferred embodiment and has included certain details, it should be understood that the invention is not to be limited to the precise details herein illustrated and described since the same may be carried out in other ways, falling within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What I claim is:

1. In combination, an automatic firearm of the type using a cartridge belt and having a breech casing provided with a transverse feed channel therein and also having mechanism to automatically feed said belt through said feed channel from one side of said breech casing during firin of said firearm, a carrying handle for said firearm, said handle at least partially spanning said feed channel, means on breech casing to support said handle for pivotal movement between carrying position and a position wherein said handle is disof fthebreech- .casins; whereby. inter'ferencefbetween the hand-leand'the feeding of the :belt is substantially prevented.

2; Incombination, an automatic firearm of the type'using afcartridge belt and having .a breech casing providedlwith a transverse feed channel therein and also having mechanism to automate callyfeed said. belt through said feed channelfrom one side of said breech casing during firing of saidfirearm, a carrying handle for said firearm, said handle at least partially spanning saidfeed channel, and combined supporting and stop means on said breech casing to support said handie-for pivotal movement between carryin position and a position wherein said handle is disposed adjacent the side of the breech casing containing the feed .channel exit, said combined means also serving to engage thehandle and stop movement thereof from carrying position toward the feed channel entrance side of the breech casing. whereby interference between the handle and thefeeding of the belt is substantially prevented.

3. In combination, an automatic firearm including a breech casing and a pivoted cover plate on the upper surface of said breech casing,.and'

' a carrying handle pivoted to said breech casing posed adjacent the side of the breech casing containing the feed channel exit, and stop means on said firearm and adapted to engage said handle to prevent movement thereof from carrying position toward the feed channel entrance side and spanning said cover plate and also being: adapted to be swung from a carrying position in which it is substantially vertically above the cover plate to a positon adjacent one side of said breech casing, saidcarrying handle being clear of said cover plate when in the last mentioned position whereby the cover plate may be raised.

4. In combination, an automatic firearm including a breech casing and a pivoted cover plate on the upper surface of said breech casing, bearing members respectively mounted on said breech casing in front of and to the rear of said cover plate, and a handle pivotally mounted in said bearing members and adapted to be swung from carrying position which is substantially vertically above said cover plate to a position adjacent one side of said breech casing in which latter position said handle is clear of the periphery of said cover plate whereby the same may be raised.

5. In combination, an automatic firearm including a breech casing having a trunnion block and a pivoted cover plate on the upper surface of said breech casing, a bearing member mounted on said breech casing behind said cover plate, a second bearing member mounted on said trunnion block in front of said cover plate, and a handle pivotally mounted in said bearing members and adapted to be swung from carrying position which is substantially vertically above said cover plate to a position adjacent one side of said breech casing to clear and permit the raising of the cover plate.

6. In combination, an automatic firearm including a breech casing and a pivoted cover plate on the top of said breech casing, a bearing mounted on the top of said firearm rearward of said cover plate, a bearing mountedon the top of the firearm forward of said cover plate, and a handle having a hand engaging portion and trunnions ofiset with respect to said hand engaging portion, said trunnions being pivotally mounted in said bearings whereby said handle may be swung from carrying position which is substantially vertically above said cover plate to a position adjacent one side of said breech casing in which latter position the handle extends beyond the periphery of said cover plate to permit the raising of the latter.

7. In combination, an automatic firearm 1n cluding a breech casing and a cover plate pivoted on the top of said breech casing, a bearing mounted on the top of said firearm rearward of said cover plate, another bearing mounted on the top of said firearm forward of said cover plate, and a generally U-shaped handle having trunnions on the free ends of the legs of said handle which trunnions are received in said bearing to pivotally mount said handle on the top of said firearm for swinging movement from carrying position wherein the portion of said handle extending between the legs thereof is disposed substantially vertically above said firearm to a position wherein said portion of the handle is disposed outward beyond one side of saidbreech casing whereby the cover plate may be raised when the handle is in said latter position.

8. In combination, an automatic firearm of the type using a cartridge belt and including a breech casing having a feed channel to feed said belt through said feed channel from one side of said breech casing and said firearm also including a cover plate pivoted on the top of said breech casing, a bearing mounted on the top of said firearm rearward of said-cover plate, another bearing mounted on the top .of said firearm forward of said cover plate, a generally U-shaped handle having trunnions on the free ends of the legs of said handle which trunnions are received in said bearings to pivotally mount said handle on the top of said firearm for swinging movement from carrying position wherein the portion of said handle extending between the legs thereof is disposed substantially vertically above said firearm to a position wherein said portion of the handle is disposed outward beyond one side of said breech casing whereby the cover'plate may be raised when the handle is in said latter position, and stop means :mounted on said firearm and adapted to engage said handle to prevent pivotal movement of the and stop member mounted on the top of said firearm with one of said members disposed rearward of said cover plate and the other disposed forward of said cover plate, and a generally U-shaped handle having trunnions on the free ends of the legs of said handle which trunnions are received .in the bearings of said members to pivotally mount "said handle on the top of said firearm for swinging movement from carrying position wherein the ,portion of said handle extending between the legs "thereof is disposed substantially vertically above ":isaid firearm to a position wherein said portion of the handle is disposed outward beyond one side of said breech casing whereby the cover plate may stop member of said combined bearing and stop member to prevent pivotal movement of said be raised when the handle is in said latter position, said handle also being engageable with the handle toward the side of the breech easing into which the cartridge belt is fed.

GEORGE IRONSIDE. 

